The Syrian tragedy must be stopped

In one of the Syrian towns adjacent to Hama, the residents are calling out for relief. Corpses have lain in the streets for three days, and the regime’s army stationed there - with more than a hundred armoured vehicles - prevents them from being buried. In Douma, doctors are calling for international intervention to inspect the situation, suspecting the outbreak of serious epidemics due to the proliferation of corpses and the continued bombing of civilian neighborhoods, forcing most of the residents to flee. These daily cases of violence and suffering, most of them photographed and documented, increase the pressure, but not on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. His only concern with regards to the crimes of his forces is the impact that these horrific images would have if his three children were to see them on the internet, as someone in the Turkish media put it! These terrible crimes, reported to millions of people in the Middle East every evening, increase the pressure on the region’s governments and the forces of various communities. Everyone is aware that the Syrian people are crying out because of the genocide they have suffered for over the past year and a half without anyone coming to their aid. Those who know the general climate here know which direction the wind is blowing, namely towards mass popular anger. In light of this despair and growing public anger, there are those who will not stand idly by because of the inability of the region’s governments. What further adds to the tension is the fact that the Arab League continues to cover up for the Syrian regime’s crimes, and the fact that it has not done anything other than demand the suspension of the broadcast of pro-Assad satellite television stations, and even this decision has not been implemented. The Bashar al-Assad regime is eroding from the inside and there is much evidence of this, but until we reach breaking point – perhaps at the end of this year – the official Arab stances will continue to alienate the people of the region. Those Arab states adopting “spectator” stances will no doubt find themselves besieged tomorrow withthe emergence of jihadist groups riding a wave of public anger and criticism against them. The average citizen does not understand international law, but he knows that genocide cannot be tolerated. A year and a half of killing, destruction and genocide means that international law cannot block intervention in this matter. It is inconceivable that 20 Arab states are doing nothing simply because Russia and China used their veto at the UN Security Council. It is inconceivable for the majority of Arab League members to succumb to the governments of a handful of countries such as Algeria, Mauritania, Sudan and Iraq, and refrain from intervening directly, or calling for international action. We should not be fooled by the Arab League Secretary-General quoting Article 47 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, namely the article calling for the use of all sanctions, such as economic sanctions, but not including military intervention. In the event that these sanctions fail, everybody must go back to the UN Security Council once more to call for the implementation of Article 42 of Chapter VII, which does include the use of force. This is the resolution that Russia and China vetoed. Therefore talk about Chapter VII here is nothing more than a linguistic deception, only succeeding in granting the al-Assad regime more time to kill thousands of unarmed Syrians. Also, we can be under no illusions with regards to what Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said a few days ago, that elements of al-Qaeda had crossed the Iraqi border into Syria. The minister seemed somewhat coerced to say this ridiculous statement, particularly as al-Qaeda elements do not need to move between Iraq and Syria; they came from Syria in the first place. It seems that the Iraqi foreign minister had been forced to make this statement as punishment by his pro-Assad government, because last week he dared to describe what is happening in Syria as crimes committed by the al-Assad regime against unarmed civilians. Inside Syria, the genocidal war continues relentlessly. Merchants are killed and their shops are looted whenever they close down to strike or protest. Even funeral mourners, walking behind the coffins of the dead, are murdered. Celebrities and notable figures in society are also targeted, with al-Assad’s forces recently killing famous athletes who have adopted hostile stances. A few days ago, Al Nawaeer FC football player Hossam Abu Ali was executed in public. In protest against al-Assad’s crimes, Syrian footballer Firas Al Khatib refused to play. Furthermore, the regime’s forces recently freed boxer Ahmed Wattar, after imprisoning him as punishment for his opposition stance. The regime is besieged by the growing uprising led by the forces and symbols of society, from military leaders to sporting celebrities, and the escalating protests that refuse to back down despite the horrific abuse. In the Syrian capital Damascus alone last Friday, 46 demonstrations took place. Supporting the Syrian people will only achieve one result, that is not the overthrow of the regime – for this is inevitable – rather it will accelerate this and limit the suffering and bloodshed. --- The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.